Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 224, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1915 — The Ward Trial At Monticello Begins Today. [ARTICLE]

The Ward Trial At Monticello Begins Today.

Monticello Journal. There is scarcely a breathing spell between murder trials this court term. Tuesday morning Robert Ward, of Norway, will go on trial for the alleged murder of his wife at Norway. It is predicted that this trial will attract even more interest locally than the trial of Bert Watson.

On February 15, Mrs. Robert Ward was fatally burned when her clothes were saturated with coal oil and ignited. She died the following day after great suffering. Just previous to this incident Mrs. Ward had had a quarrel with her husband, who had dislocated her arm in a scuffle. She went to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Noah Miller, but shortly after returned home. A neighbor who followed her waited outside in order to ascertain any further violence on the part of the husband, but heard nothing for some time. Then he heard Mrs. Ward scream and entered the house to find her enveloped in flames. At the time of the occurrence it was given out that she had committed suicide in that manner in a fit of rage against her husband. During the April term an investigation of the matter was made by the grand jury with the result that an indictment charging first degree murder was returned against Ward May 3. He was not arrested until August 8, after a reward had been ogered for him by the county council, when he was brought here by the sheriff of Benton county, who had found him employed on a farm near P’owler.

Ward alleges his innocence, declaring that his wife did the deed herself. He shows the scars on his hands to prove that he rece ; ved serious bums in an attempt to save her life. Prosecutor Brockway will conduct the trial alone for the state and Attorney Geo. W. Kassabaum will represent the defense. It is probable that it will take several days before a jury will be selected, as the case has been discussed a great deal over the county.